Preventative veterinary care is your pet’s first line of defense. Annual exams help prevent, diagnose and treat disease in its early stages, often before any noticeable symptoms begin. The earlier treatment starts, the more effective it is, keeping your pet from unnecessary pain and suffering.
Our nose-to-tail exams give us a good picture of your pet’s overall health and alert us to any changes that might have occurred since your pet’s last visit.
Our preventative care services include:
- Annual Wellness Exams
- Puppy and Kitten Exams
- Vaccinations
- Parasite Prevention
- Microchipping
- Nutrition Counseling
- Behavioral Counseling
- Senior Care
Exams: We recommend that you bring your pet in for wellness exams at least once a year. Prevention and early diagnosis are the keys to keeping your pet happy and healthy, and wellness checkups are the only way to ensure that.
Vaccinations: Keeping your pets up to date on immunizations and booster shots is a highly effective way to prevent many common diseases and infections like distemper, parvo and rabies in dogs and disease like, feline panleukopenia, rhinotracheitis and rabies in cats. Beyond those core vaccines, your pet’s age, lifestyle, and likely exposure to certain diseases will be evaluated before we recommend additional inoculations.
Parasite Prevention: Flea, tick, and worm prevention: it’s important you protect your pet from these pests and the problems they can cause. They can carry diseases for both animal and human family members. Preventing them in the first place is much easier and ultimately less expensive than getting rid of them after they’ve affected your pet . We can help you choose the preventative that’s best for your pet.
Microchipping: We encourage all pet owners to microchip their animal companions. The sad fact is that only 17% of dogs and 2% of cats make it back to their owners when they become lost. Microchipping greatly increases the chances that your pet will be returned to you—it’s also affordable and relatively painless. One of the most important things you can do for your pet is to make sure he or she is microchipped. Unlike collars, microchips stay with your pet for life and will make it much more likely your pet will be returned to you if lost.
Nutrition Counseling: Proper nutrition supports all your pet’s bodily processes, bolstering their immune system and ensuring normal development. Sometimes, prescription food can aid in the treatment of a health condition. We can advise you on feeding schedules and options for optimum health no matter how old your furry friend is.
Behavioral Evaluations: Often, changes in behavior are one of the first signs that our pet may not be feeling good. If you notice a sudden change in your pet’s behavior- such as urinating outside the letterbox, sudden development of aggression or fear, or sudden touch or sound sensitivity- we recommend an exam to rule out any underlying medical causes. If there is a medical component to your pet’s behavior, we will help you identify the cause and work with you to resolve the issue.
Senior care: We love elder pets! Preventative care becomes more significant for aging dogs and cats. South Park Animal Hospital recommends exams at least twice a year and regular lab work for elderly animals. As pets get older, they are prone to many age-related diseases like vision changes, arthritis and diabetes that are necessary to diagnose and treat.
